1885
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Little Steps, Chelsea is a 1885 ink by James McNeill Whistler, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a small, dark room with two women standing inside. One woman is at the center, holding something near her face, while the other sits on a low stool to the right. The walls are lined with tall, narrow objects—maybe shelves or mirrors—and the floor has scattered debris. Light comes from the left, casting shadows and making the scene feel tight and intimate. The lines are scratchy and uneven, like the artist was working fast. This style fits the loose, sketchy look of etchings, where the ink is pulled up in places to create texture. Next, check out etching to see how artists use acid and metal plates to make prints like this.
James Abbott McNeill Whistler was an American painter in oils and watercolor, and printmaker, active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
